Crime sucks, but it’s always great watching the culprits get tracked and apprehended. Such is the joy of detective shows, andNetflixhas several great ones. These shows are all adored by fans and critics, offering a varied look at law enforcement, ranging from believable cases to stories that are only likely to play out on the screen. Additionally, they are packed with relevant themes that make them feel intellectually superior to others of their kind.
Here are the 10 best can’t-miss detective shows on Netflix.
10’The Sinner' (2014 – 2021)
The Sinneris an anthology show that followsDetective Harry Ambrose (Harry Pullman) as he digs into different cases, each characterized by a sense of heavy risk. Initially, each crime seems straightforward, only for shocking revelations. Mostcrimes are committed by the most unlikely people.
Never Looked Guilty
Seasons can be viewed in whatever order, and, no matter what route you choose, the show retains all itsgritty realism and edgy, foreboding atmosphere. All the chase-and-capture sequences, done in total pandemonium, are riveting, andHarry Pullman’s lead performance as the exterminator of lawbreakers conveys a melancholic, twisted nobility. The jarring conclusion of each chapter also makes the show particularly memorable. Among the detective series' many award nominations are the Golden Globes, Emmys, and Critics' Choice Awards.
9’Aquarius' (2015 – 2016)
InAquarius, David Duchovny stars asLAPD Detective Sam Hodiak as he investigates the activities of Charles Manson (Gethin Anthony) and the infamous Manson Family in the 1960s. Blending fact and fiction, the show first dwells on Manson’s growing influence before diving into the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders.
Once Upon a Time In…
An alumnus of the‘90s hit,The X-Files, Duchovnyknows everything about playing a great lawman, and he brings the same energy here. Racism, addiction, counterculture, and the Vietnam War are some of the major topics covered, all bubbling in a gorgeous canvas.Location shooting in Los Angeles adds a pungent Hollywood flavoring. Regrettably,Aquariusdidn’t find a huge enough audience when it first aired, but it deserves one now.
8’Dark Winds' (2022 – Present)
Dark Windstakes us to the Navajo Nation in New Mexico in the 1970s, whereLieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) is focused on a violent motel double‑murder and an armored‑car heistthat involved a helicopter. Aiding him is Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), an undercover FBI agent pretending to be his deputy.
A Tense Look Into Native American Affairs
Mysticism and cultural norms are expertly meldedto create a compelling detective thriller. Much credit goes to showrunners Vince Calandra and John Wirth formining the sweetest elements out of theLeaphorn & Cheenovel series by Tony Hillerman. There’s never a dull moment in this Western noir and psychological thriller hybrid. We’d presume George R. R. Martin (who serves as one of the executive producers) also contributed to some of the magic.
7’The Residence' (2025)
Chief Usher A.B. Wynter (Giancarlo Esposito) wasmurdered during a high‑profile state dinner for the Australian prime minister in the White House. The bird-obsesseddetective Cordelia Cupp (Uzo Aduba) has now been called to investigate. The scenarios play out with slight variations and different tones every time she questions someone new. So, who really did it?The Residencehas interesting answers.
Something Sinister Is Cooking
Changing perspectives are the hallmark ofthis intriguing Shondaland show, and themagnificently photographedgem impressivelyjuxtaposes contrasting emotional beats within a variety of intriguing characters. Using combinations of static shots and frequent zooms, the directors present the scenarios without judgment while still managing to make everyone look like a suspect. And, have pop-cultural references ever been done any better? Each episode is titled after a classic movie, best-selling book, or short story.
6’Untamed' (2025)
Untamedstars Eric Bana as Kyle Turner,a National Park Service special agent investigating the death of a woman who plummeted off a cliff. Unsurprisingly, nothing is as it seems. The tentacles of a major conspiracy soon reveal themselves.
Malice in Paradise
With itseerie premise and tense, disconcerting atmosphere, this detective thriller has become one of the biggest Netflix hits of 2025, and it’s no surprise that a second season has already been ordered. Here’s another show thatrelies on an unrelenting air of foreboding, rather than the usual shock tacticsthat mostpopular detective thrillerstend to rely on. You’ll be hooked right from the opening minutes, when Kyle descends the El Capitan in Yosemite National Park and inspects the body while hanging dangerously on climbing ropes.
5’Dept Q.' (2015)
Things aren’t going so well forDept Q’s protagonist, DCI Carl Morck (Matthew Goode). A botched job has caused him to bedemoted to Department Q, which deals with cold cases. There, hebecomes interested in the case of an ambitious prosecutor, Merritt Lingard(Chloe Pirrie), and, as he looks into the matter, what he finds is truly disturbing.
Making the Most Out of Unfavorable Circumstances
Dept. Qis not only amodish, masterfully paced crime story, but also a sinister metaphor for action and consequence. Most credit goes to series creator Scott Frank, who has done great work in Hollywood. His resume includes two Oscar screenplay noms forOut of SightandLogan.He also madeThe Queen’s Gambit. Beyond this, Goode does a great job of channeling the rapidly changing emotions of his character.
4’Blindspot' (2015 – 2020)
Created by Martin Gero (famous forStargate Atlantis),Blindspotstars Jaimie Alexander as Jane Doe (later revealed to be Alice Kruger),an amnesiac woman who is found naked in Times Square with tattoosall over her body. The FBI soon steps in when it emerges thateach tattoo contains information about an unsolved crime.
Labyrinthine Yet Addictive
Gero’s colorful, exciting show benefits froman exemplary, larger-than-life turn from Jaimie Alexander, and perhapsSullivan Stapleton’s finest acting job ever(afterStrike Back). The show neatly blends thriller elements, conspiracy, espionage, pathos, and endless suspense to create top-notch entertainment.
3’NCIS' (2003 – Present)
NCIS— revolving aroundthe Naval Criminal Investigative Service’s investigations of criminal activities involving the US Marine Corps and the US Navy— is one ofthe longest-running TV shows of all time. It has also spawned a major franchise, which is impressive, considering that it was also a spinoff of the ‘90s show,JAG.
Pure Military Fun Outside the Battlefield
The show fascinates because theheroes are always in tight spots, as there are always people looking to sabotage them or punish them for their past jobs. Look out for marvelous cameos, and the leggy, alluring Cote de Pablo as Feathers, a former Mossad officer turned NCIS special agent who is always up to something. A military-themed show is also no good withoutgreat action sequences, andNCIStruly delivers.
2’White Collar' (2009 – 2014)
There’s an unlikely partnership inWhite Collar.Aftercatching con artist Neal Caffrey(Matt Bomer), FBI agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) believes it foolish to let the man’s talents go to waste. He thusoffers him a sweet deal: assist the bureau in nabbing white-collar crimesin exchange for a shorter sentence.
Taking the War to the Offices
Style and wit makeWhite Collara hard show to look away from. Bomer and DeKay have an easy, relaxed chemistry, and no matter how tough the situation is, thezingers and putdowns keep flowing in a constant stream. Also, Tiffani Thiessen was never lovelier than here, and her interactions with DeKay are dramatic highlights. Once you are done watching it, you can look forward to more, as a reboot is currently in development.
1’Mindhunter' (2017)
Set in the ‘70s,Mindhunterrevolves around FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), thepioneers of criminal profiling in the bureau. Aided by psychologist Dr. Wendy Carr (Anna Torv),Holden and Bill interview imprisoned serial killers and use the knowledge to forestall future offenses.
The Real ‘Criminal Minds’
Based on the 1995 true-crimebook Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unitby John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker,Mindhunterthrives by digging deep intobureaucratic resistance obstacles, the mental toll of a job, and the blurry lines of ethics. David Fincher directed most of the episodes, and magic always happens whenever a Hollywood titan settles on the set of a TV show. The crime thriller received numerous awards during its run, including two Emmys.
Mindhunter
